Using my iphone in Canada

[caddywompus]

We are heading to Canada soon (from US) and I have an iphone.  I want to take my phone with me, but I've heard crazy stories of people racking up HUGE bills while they're out of the country, because of all the apps, emails, etc, running in the background and using up a bunch of data.
Question- if I just go to Settings and turn off the Cellular Data and Data Roaming buttons while that be OK?  Will I still be able to connect to WIFI for free? Will I be able to make phone calls (in case of emergency)?
Thanks for any advice- I am so techno illiterate!!

[Brit]

You had a ton of questions there, but yes. Just turn off cellular and roaming data.

[monkeygirl18]

When out of country I always put mine in airplane mode. As long as I'm on wifi everything still works (websites,email,FB...). I never make calls...I email(free on wifi) or text (cheaper than calling). If you must call take phone off of airplane mode, make call (international rates will apply) and put back on airplane mode when done. This way there can be no accidental charges.

Another option for calling is to buy a prepaid calling card and use the room phone or pay phone to call (my step dad does this when he goes to Canada).

[caddywompus]

Thanks for the info.
I had heard about turning on airplane mode, too. I don't plan on making any calls, so I may do that, as well as turning off the cellular usage.

[Vespasia]

We went to Canada recently and I called my provider (Verizon) beforehand. We would have been able to make calls as normal because the US and Canada use the same system. However, we'd be charged a rate of $.89 a minute for roaming. Texting was free though and we took full advantage of that to contact the people we were visiting and to keep in touch with family back home.

As PP said, I just turned data off and used wifi when available. I've actually started doing that in everyday situations where my phone is low and I don't have a charger handy. It really extends the battery life.